The controversial £66bn project that's changed where 25-mile-long UK river goes

A huge project has changed the route of a UK river, with officials saying the work will improve the environment. It is part of the construction of the controversial HS2 railway line in the West Midlands, which critics have suggested is costing too much and should be scrapped altogether following the axing of the route from Birmigham to Leeds. Officials say they have now completed a "major river enhancement" in Warwickshire, which is "the most significant realignment of a natural river on the project".

They added that the re-naturalisation of the River Cole near Coleshill will "improve the existing river environment by creating more meander bends and enhancing habitats in the river and along its banks to maximise biodiversity". In order to build the Birmingham Spur of the Delta Junction - a triangular section of line enabling trains to travel between London and Birmingham, Birmingham and Manchester - a section of the river needed to be permanently realigned to support the construction of two new viaducts and a series of railway embankments, HS2 detailed.

The firm added: "The realignment project was designed by HS2's Mott MacDonald SYSTRA Design Joint Venture and delivered by ecologists and engineers working for HS2's construction partner Balfour Beatty VINCI.

"In consultation with external stakeholders, including the Environment Agency, the team has created a holistic nature-based design which goes beyond the standard environmental mitigation measures."

One person commented on : "£80billion and counting being spent, enviroment destroyed and for what? 20 minutes quicker to Birmingham.

"This country has lost its mind."

A different account said: "It's like they chose the most difficult route they could have, that would cause the most public upset, anguish and backlash, at the most expensive cost!!"

Another comment read: "This colossal project, eating huge budget! The street's are broken, no money in the budget, HS2 unnecessary project!"

A different comment read: "What a total waste of time, effort and money.

"Destroyed a lot of local communities, farmers with multi generations, all gone."

Another YouTube commenter said: "No wonder this project cost so much, they have to spend huge amounts of money on things like this to align with the environmental rules.

If this was China they wouldn't have bothered as no one can oppose the government there, which in turns cuts the excess spending.

"Must be why China can build these projects for 1/10 of the price."

However, other are supportive.

One person wrote: "Some great work happening there. Well done to all involved.

"Will be great to see the site in a few years time when construction has been completed and the area restored."

A different account said: "More proof that HS2 must be fully built. Both Eastern and Western Legs must be built."

Another viewer wrote: "Lots of 'rivers' in urban areas have been heavily engineered into glorified drainage ditches.

"Great to see HS2 bringing a small part back to a more natural river habitat form and improving flood mitigation at the same time!"

In June last year, HS2 Ltd assessed the cost for the line between London and Birmingham would be up to £66billion.

The project has incurred "significant cost" because public bodies have launched nine legal challenges against it, the Transport Secretary, Heidi Alexander, said in July.

The Cabinet minister noted that in "almost all cases", the courts have found in favour of the high-speed rail scheme between London and Birmingham.

In July, the Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, said: "The reason that HS2 is not coming to my city of Leeds anymore anytime soon, is because I'm afraid, as a country, we've cared more about the bats than we have about the commuter times for people in Leeds and West Yorkshire, and we've got to change that,

"Because I care more about a young family getting on the housing ladder than I do about protecting some snails, and I care more about my energy bills and my constituents than I do about the views of people from their windows."